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Friday, August 9, 2013

Dirk Wyle - The Mystery of Science

For Miami author Dirk Wyle (pen name of Duncan Harold
Haynes, Ph. D.), there are few things as fascinating as the wonders of science.
After receiving a degree in chemistry from Butler University, he went on to
earn his doctorate in molecular biology at the University of Pennsylvania. He
spent four years in Germany as a post-doctoral scientist, and after returning
to the United States, spent the next 30 years working in biomedical research.Wyle also became something of an entrepreneur
after discovering a way to convert general anesthetics into injectable form. He
started a small company with its own lab that grew into a thriving business he
sold 13 years later for several million dollars.

In the mid ‘90s, Wyle was bitten by the writing bug.
“Reading was a constant in my life, and I always thought I had a novel in me
somewhere,” he says. “I guess I could have turned into a literary type, but
science eclipsed that.” He noticed that none of the books he read depicted
scientists realistically. Inspired by the works of John D. MacDonald, a writer
he calls “one of my influences and a kindred spirit,” Wyle decided to pen a
novel that would show what life as a scientist was really like. Three years
later, he had completed Pharmacology is
Murder, the first in what would become a five-book series Wyle describes as
“captivating mystery/thrillers with a scientific background.” Pharmacology is Murder introduces Ben
Candidi, an amateur detective with a doctorate in pharmacology. Wyle calls his
protagonist “candid and idealistic, a guy who thinks the world could be a
better place if everyone applied themselves and tried to do the right thing. He
doesn’t look for trouble, but it comes to him framed in the challenging
projects he’s given.” Publishers Weekly praises the Candidi
mysteries as “pleasing for both their intrigue and their intellect.”

Pharmacology is Murder
was followed two years later by Biotechnology
is Murder. Here, Ben Candidi is investigating a biotechnology company that claims
to have discovered a cancer cure. The deeper he digs, the more enmeshed he
becomes in a web of murder and intrigue. The third book in the series, Medical School is Murder (2001), has Ben
in a Miami medical school where he has taken over the lab of a dead professor.
After agreeing to write the old man’s biography, Ben uncovers some disturbing
clues that lead him to believe that the professor did not die of natural
causes. Amazon Gold (2003) takes Ben
deep into the Brazilian rainforest searching for his fiancée, Rebecca Levis,
who has mysteriously disappeared.

Wyle’s latest addition to the Candidi series is Bahamas West End is Murder, a novel that
was inspired by his voyage to the Little Bahama Bank. “I put in at the West End
Marina. It was a really funky place, full of interesting characters. I always thought it would be natural to have
Ben sail into that place and have to deal with the people there.” What starts
out as a romantic vacation for Ben and Rebecca turns into an adventure complete
with a dead body on a boat, a host of seamy marina characters, corrupt local
police, and a new breed of pirate in a novel Booklist says, “…blends scientific smarts with quirky characters in
another fine outing.”

Wyle’s latest projects include a sixth Candidi mystery that
will take Ben to the Yucatan Peninsula and a stand-alone psychological thriller
set in Boca Raton. Wyle finds it challenging to “fit science into exciting circumstances,”
but you don’t need scientific background to enjoy his books. He hopes his novels
will give readers a greater appreciation for the human side of science, and
perhaps help them learn something new along the way. “I’d like to make science
real enough to resonate with the reader who’s interested,” he says. And it’s
easy to be interested when science blends with a healthy dose of excitement,
mystery, and intrigue in an unforgettable story.

JACQUELINE

Based on a true story, "Jacqueline" is a tale of family, faith, unusual friendships, and the resiliency of the human spirit set against the backdrop of occupied Rennes in 1944. With the drama of fiction and the authenticity of personal history, "Jacqueline" is both a story about family and a family's story.

PROJECT JUNE BUG

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About Me

I'm currently a columnist for The Island Reporter, a publication serving the South Gulf Beaches in St. Petersburg, Florida. My Florida Authors series features articles based on exclusive interviews with some of the state’s best writers. My “Pride & Joy” column
profiles individuals who give back to their communities through volunteerism.
I'm also the author of two novels."Project June Bug" is the story of a young teacher’s efforts to help a student with ADHD. It has received 12 awards, including Premier Book Awards “2009 Book of the Year.” My latest novel, "Jacqueline,"(published by Anaiah Press) is a middle grade historical based on an experience my dad, a WWII veteran, had while stationed in France shortly after D-day. Four of my stories have appeared in "Chicken Soup for the Soul" editions.
I live on Treasure Island (yes, it's as beautiful as it sounds), with my husband and two rather noisy macaws. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, walking on the beach, and visiting family in New Jersey, where I'm the proud "Grammy" of six beautiful grandchildren (with the pictures to prove it!)